Bangkok (AFP) – Thai LGBTQ protesters and supporters gather in downtown Bangkok to demand that the government keep a promise to pass a marriage equality bill. Thailand’s cabinet on Tuesday gave the go-ahead for parliament to debate legalising same-sex unions, moving the kingdom a step closer to equalising marriage rights.
Seoul (AFP) – Blockchain engineer and self-professed insectophobe Kang Jae-gu his using his skills to help tackle an infestation of bedbugs. When news emerged about an outbreak of the pests in his native South Korea, the 29-year-old created an interactive map that shows the approximate locations of reported infestations across the country, as well as real-time news stories on the issue.
Chiang Mai (Thailand) (AFP) – In a forest outside the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai, a drone moves back and forth atop the rich canopy, transmitting photos to be knitted into a 3D model of the woodland’s health and an estimate of how much carbon it can absorb. Drones are part of an increasingly sophisticated arsenal used by scientists to understand forests and their role in the battle against climate change.
Geneva (AFP) – The UN human rights chief says the world has become “jaded” by the Ukraine conflict where war crimes continue to be committed “primarily by the forces of the Russian Federation”. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, tells the Human Rights Council in Geneva that his office has gathered evidence of “war crimes” and “gross violations” of international human rights law by Russian forces.
Narrabri (Australia) (AFP) – An out of control fire burns in Australian bushland near Narrabri about 400 kilometres (249 miles) northwest of Sydney as firefighters battle to protect people’s homes. Residents of villages in the area have been told it is too late to leave and to shelter in place.
Unknown (AFP) – NASA announces it has used a state-of-the-art laser communication system on a spaceship 31 million kilometres away from Earth — to send a high-definition cat video. The 15-second meow-vie featuring an orange tabby named Taters is the first to be streamed from deep space, and demonstrates that it is possible to transmit the sort of communications needed to support complex missions such as sending humans to Mars.
Poissy (France) (AFP) – Quizzed about his relationship with Kylian Mbappé, PSG coach Luis Enrique jokes that “it’s a perfect relationship.” “We’re not a couple – but we’re close – mainly because he doesn’t want to be,” the Spaniard adds. Mbappé had been in a dispute with PSG in the summer, and with his contract expiring at the end of the season the star striker may finally seek to put an end to the endless rumours regarding his future as he searches for European glory.
Unknown (AFP) – Images released by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on December 19, 2023 show the launch of the country’s most powerful solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile. Monday’s test launch of the solid-fuel Hwasong-18 came a day after the nuclear-powered submarine USS Missouri made port in Busan and followed a US-South Korea warning that a nuclear attack by Pyongyang would mean “the end of the Kim regime”.
Svartsengi (Iceland) (AFP) – Aerial images of volcano erupting and spewing lava on the Reykjanes peninsula 3km north of Grindavik in southwest Iceland.
Conakry (AFP) – At least 13 people have been killed and 178 others injured after a powerful explosion and fire at the main fuel depot in Guinea rocked the centre of the capital Conakry overnight, the country’s Minister of Health Oumar Djouhe Bah says. After receiving care, 89 of the injured have been able to go home, he adds.
